'''Barliman Butterbur''' (late [[Third Age]] – early [[Fourth Age]]) was the owner of the Inn known as [[The Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]].

'''Barliman Butterbur''' (late [[Third Age]] – early [[Fourth Age]]) was the owner of the Inn known as [[The Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]].

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Barliman appears to have had a rather bad memory, "One thing drives out another" he says. He forgot to send [[Gandalf]]'s letter to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], leaving Frodo uncertain as to Gandalf's fate and causing him to start his journey much later than the letter indicated. He did not remember it until Frodo and his companions arrived to stay at the inn, and even then it was long before the connection was made. He did, however, remember to produce [[Aragorn II|Strider]]'s credentials.

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==History==

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Barliman appeared to have had a rather bad memory, "One thing drives out another" he says. He forgot to send [[Gandalf]]'s letter to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], leaving Frodo uncertain as to Gandalf's fate and causing him to start his journey much later than the letter indicated. He did not remember it until Frodo and his companions arrived to stay at the inn, and even then it was long before the connection was made. He did, however, remember to produce [[Aragorn|Strider]]'s credentials.

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When Gandalf finally arrives at The Prancing Pony, he's furious with Barliman's forgetfulness, but quickly forgives him when he finds out the Hobbits are alive. He even goes so far as to put a blessing on his beer.

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When Gandalf finally arrived at The Prancing Pony, he was furious with Barliman's forgetfulness, but quickly forgave him when he found out the Hobbits were alive. He even went so far as to put a blessing on his beer.

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In ''[[The Return of the King]]'', Barliman was amazed to learn that Strider, a former patron of the Prancing Pony, had become king of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]].

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After the [[War of the Ring]], Barliman was amazed to learn that Strider, a former patron of the Prancing Pony, had become king of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]].

Barliman was a [[Men|Man]], but as Bree was inhabited by both Men and [[Hobbits]], he had two hobbit employees: [[Bob]], who worked in the stables, and [[Nob]], a servant.

Barliman was a [[Men|Man]], but as Bree was inhabited by both Men and [[Hobbits]], he had two hobbit employees: [[Bob]], who worked in the stables, and [[Nob]], a servant.

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== Portrayal in Adaptations ==

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==Other Versions of the Legendarium==

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In the first version of the events at the Prancing Pony, written in pencil, the name of the innkeeper was "Timothy Titus", a name from an old incomplete story by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] (in which the character bore no resemblance to Mr. Butterbur). "Timothy Titus" was written over in ink with the name "Barnabas Butterbur" in Tolkien's manuscript and was created as a very fat Hobbit before he was subsequently changed into the man called "Barliman".<ref>{{R|1VIIIN}}, note 3</ref>

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==Etymology==

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Barliman means "barley-man", a suitable name for an ale-brewer.<ref name="Nomen">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings|Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]" in [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (eds), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', pp. 754-5</ref>

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==Portrayal in adaptations==

<gallery>

<gallery>

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Image:Ralph Bakshi's Barliman Butterbur.jpg|Barliman as portrayed in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]

File:The Lord of the Rings War in the North - Barliman Butterbur.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''

</gallery>

</gallery>

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In [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]], Barliman was voiced by [[Alan Tilvern]].

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In [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]], he is played by [[David Weatherley]], although the character is not named and most of his scenes from the book (including the reference to Gandalf's letter) are not in the film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''

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:He is played by [[David Weatherley]], although the character is not named and most of his scenes from the book (including the reference to Gandalf's letter) are not in the film.

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'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

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:Barliman is a non-playable character that can be found at the [[Prancing Pony]]. The player meets with him during Volume I ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar|Shadows of Angmar]]'', Book I: ''[[Stirrings in the Darkness]]'', Foreword: "An Unwanted Guest".

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'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''

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:Barliman Butterbur is the inn-keeper, and can be found behind the bar in the Prancing Pony. He tells the player news about troubles in the south, and [[Southernors]] who have come lately to Bree, and information about the Prancing Pony, that it almost exists as long as Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>

Contents

History

Barliman appeared to have had a rather bad memory, "One thing drives out another" he says. He forgot to send Gandalf's letter to Frodo, leaving Frodo uncertain as to Gandalf's fate and causing him to start his journey much later than the letter indicated. He did not remember it until Frodo and his companions arrived to stay at the inn, and even then it was long before the connection was made. He did, however, remember to produce Strider's credentials.

When Gandalf finally arrived at The Prancing Pony, he was furious with Barliman's forgetfulness, but quickly forgave him when he found out the Hobbits were alive. He even went so far as to put a blessing on his beer.

After the War of the Ring, Barliman was amazed to learn that Strider, a former patron of the Prancing Pony, had become king of Gondor and Arnor.

Barliman was a Man, but as Bree was inhabited by both Men and Hobbits, he had two hobbit employees: Bob, who worked in the stables, and Nob, a servant.

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the first version of the events at the Prancing Pony, written in pencil, the name of the innkeeper was "Timothy Titus", a name from an old incomplete story by Tolkien (in which the character bore no resemblance to Mr. Butterbur). "Timothy Titus" was written over in ink with the name "Barnabas Butterbur" in Tolkien's manuscript and was created as a very fat Hobbit before he was subsequently changed into the man called "Barliman".[1]

Barliman Butterbur is the inn-keeper, and can be found behind the bar in the Prancing Pony. He tells the player news about troubles in the south, and Southernors who have come lately to Bree, and information about the Prancing Pony, that it almost exists as long as Bree.[3]